Local businessman Scott Burley doesn’t hide the fact that he enjoys a good lunch served from one of Victoria’s gourmet food trucks. So when he decided to do something special for Our Place, the idea of a Food Truck Gala was a natural.

Executive Director Don Evans discusses homelessness and poverty in Greater Victoria, and how Our Place is meeting people where they are at, plus offering life-changing opportunities. Originally broadcast on Shaw TV's Citizens Forum.

Imagine being homeless and every time you see a vacancy for an apartment, the landlord takes one look and says, “We’re full.” But this isn’t the Christmas story, it’s real life for so many Family members — especially the over 30-per-cent of the Our Place community who identify as Aboriginal.

To help our Aboriginal Family members get the hand-up they deserve, Our Place — with the assistance of a grant from the Homelessness Partnering Strategy — has hired two Aboriginal Housing Support workers.

It isn't every day that we get to celebrate a romance 20 years in the making here at Our Place. Neither Lisa or Ward can drive. He’s legally blind, she has inner ear damage and hearing loss. They met on the bus 20 years ago and fell in love while sharing daily lunches at Our Place. Now the couple are engaged and plan to marry this summer.

Canadian health officials recommend that women between the ages of 50 and 69 have breast screening mammograms once every two years. However, for many struggling with mental health or addiction issues — or homelessness — regular medical check-ups are almost impossible. But this weekend — the screening came to them.